Hi everyone, just want to gather a simple and quick poll...
Here in Hong Kong, is it a normal and proper practice for landlord to see the tenant's salary/income specific entry in either Bank or Tax statement?
Y= Yes
N= No
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Why I asked about this? The background story:
I've been living in HK for about 6 years, in a two-bedroom flat, first in HK Island and now in Tseung Kwan O. Three of my past landlords from these different areas never asked for an
income proof during the deal, just a business card or a company letter as proof of employment was sufficient and sometimes a short description about job during the meeting.
But just recently, I moved to bit a more pricey three-bedroom flat and during the signing, the landlord requested to see (just show them, no copy or duplicate required) my income proof. I already brought and showed them my printed HSBC bank statement-my name is there and net savings are all shown. However, I intentionally blocked off the credit/debit details part for privacy reasons.
I was surprised when that wasn't enough, what the landlord demanded to see was very
specific-the details showing "salary or income"- amongst the part I blocked off because I
believe it's too personal and very private information already.
In my transactions here in HK, the only department that I remembered asking for this
specific details are either Immigration or a foreign embassy during travel and visa
application, and I'm fine with that. But Landlords? What do you think?
So we have a very short "tug-of-war" like conversation, I say this is already too private, as I already shown my bank statement. But what surprised me and "cooled me down" is when they said that their past landlords (because they're also renting) demanded to see similar proof. So what they had experienced with their past landlords-they just apply to me basically. In the end, I showed my income specifics to them, just via my mobile phone online banking (for your eyes only thing). And all went well.
So that's it, deal was settled, I'm ready to move soon.
But the big question still rings in my head:
Here in Hong Kong, is it normal and proper for landlord to see the tenant's salary/income specific entry in either Bank or Tax statement?
Cheers and Thanks for looking!